Latch mechanism



`Sept. 24, 19E-3 P. J. JAsTER 3,104,902

` LATCH MECHANISM Filed sept. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 25 (QI 2 PAU/ J. JASTER g VEN 0R. Bp@ M A TTORNEYS Sept- 24, 1963 P. J. JASTER 3,104,902

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PAUL J. JAS'ER INVENTOR.

fm BQ/m A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,104,902 LATCH MECHANISM Paul I. laster, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 138,069 13 Claims. (Cl. 292-36) 'Ihis invention relates to a latch mechanism particularly adapted for use on the cargo doors of panel delivery trucks or similar type vehicles.

It is desirable that the cargo doors for panel delivery trucks or like vehicles be made as large as possible to permit easy loading and unloading ofthe cargo carried in the vehicle. To decrease weight, such doors are made with minimum rigidity standards. Because of the inherent- -flexibility resulting from these minimum rigidity standards, it has been found necessary to provide multiple latch elements for latching the door to the vehicle body.

It is w object of the present invention to provide a latch mechanism having multiple latch elements which is economical to manufacture, compact in size and which Will securely latch the cargo door to the vehicle body. One of the latch elements of the latch mechanism embodying the present invention is spring loaded. This, for simplification of structure, is the latch element projecting from the vertical free edge Wall of the door. The latch elements projecting from the top and bottom edges of the door adjacent the free edge wall are of the type requiring positive manipulation of the door handle to move the latch elements into door latched or door unlatched position. This arrangement permits the vehicle operator, when making frequent deliveries along a short route, to rely only on the free edge wall latch element to hold the door closed. Should he open the door to remove cargo, it is only necessary for him to nudge or push the door in a closing direction. Upon engagement with its coacting striker plate, the spring loaded bolt will snap home to maintain the door in a closed position. On longer hauls or when it is desired to lock the cargo door, the vehicle operator may manipulate the door handle to place the upper and lower latch elements in latched condition. The door will then be latched to the vehicle body in three places.

The latch mechanism embodying the present invention has provision for locking the latch elements against retraction from latched condition; and also has certain safeguards built into the mechanism to prevent forceful displacement ot at least two of the latch elements by the use of a pry bar or similar tool.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is an elevational view of the latch mechanism as it appears from the inside;

FIG. 2 is a View of part of the latch mechanism, the view being in part similar to FIG. l, illustrating a second operative position of the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in part similar to FIG. 1 illustrating parts of the latch mechanism in a third operative position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the face of the latch mechanism opposite that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of part of the latch mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

3,164,962 Patented Sept. Z4, 1963 ice In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention as applied to the cargo door of a panel delivery truck or similar type vehicle. The latch mechanism embodying the present invention comprises a channel shaped support plate generally designated 11, having a main plate portion 12 and side flanges 13 and 14. It will be noted that the support plate 11 is vertically elongated. It is adapted to be mounted in the cargo door with its flange 13 abutting the inner face of the free edge wall of the door and with the plane of the plate portion 12 extending parallel to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle door.

A slide bolt 15 is slidably mounted -to project through a flanged aperture 16 in the side flange 13 of the main plate portion 12. As best seen in FIG. 6, the slide bolt 15 has an elongated stud 17 projecting from the rear face thereof. The stud 17 projects through a suitable aperture in the plate portion side flange 14 and is movable laterally of the plate portion 12 with the bolt 15. Interposed between the inner face of the flange 14 and the rear face of the bolt is a compression spring 13. The compression spring 18 normally urges the bolt 15 in a latched or outwardly projecting direction. The bolt is provided with an upstanding ear 19, for a purpose to be explained.

Pivotally mounted on the `support plate above the slide bolt 15 is a retractor 21. The pivot comprises a rivet 22. The retractor 21 is a multi-arm member having a first arm 23 which, as will be more fully explained, is adapted to engage the upstanding ear 19 on the bolt 15. 'Ihe retractor has two diametrically opposed arms 24 and 25 and a fourth arm 26 substantially opposite the arm 23. The arms 24 and 25 are provided with upstanding studs 27, as best seen in FIG. 5, which pivotally receive the lower and upper ends of upwardly and downwardly extending rods 2S, respectively. The upper end Yof the upwardly extending rod 28 is 'coupled to a slide bolt 29 and the lower end of the downwardly extending arm 28 is correspondingly coupled to a slide bolt 29.

As may hereinafter be defined, the slide bolt 15 is considered the primary latch element and the slide bolts 29 are considered the secondary latch elements of the latch mechanism embodying the present invention.

Above the retractor 21 on the plate portion 12 is an actuator member 31 which is pivotally mounted at 32 on the plate portion. The actuator 31 is coupled to the retractor 21 by means of a link 33. The link 33 is coupled at its lower end to the arm 26 of the retractor 21 by means of a pivot stud 34 and at its upper end to the actuator 31 by means of a pivot stud 35. The pivot 32 for the actuator 31 comprises a tubular rivet having a square aperture 36 therein adapted to receive the shank of a conventional handle (not shown) mounted on the outer panel of the door. As best seen in FIG. 5, the tubular rivet is coupled on the other side of the plate portion 12 to a shank 37 which is adapted to project lthrough the inner panel of the cargo door to receive an inside door handle (not shown).

The vertically movable bolts 29 are shown guided in guide sleeves 38 suitably mounted within the door frame Structure 39 shown in dotted outline in FIG.V 1. The bolts Y are adapted to engage suitable striker plates 41 of conventional design mounted on frame members 42 of the body panels.

In the foregoing, the basic components of the latch mechanism embodying the present invention have been described. The manner in which these basic components function during operation of the latch mechanism may bestpbe explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and `3. In FIG. 1, the primary and secondary latch elements, the bolt 15 and the bolts 29, respectively, are shown in fully latched position. The side edge 43 of the actuator 31 is passing through its longitudinal axis, i.e., a line passing through the centers of the pivots 34 and 35, passes between -the center of the pivot 3-2 upon which the actuator 31 is mounted and the flange 14 of the main plate portion 12. As a result of this relationship, any attempt to rotate the retractor 21 in a counterclockwise direction will be resisted since lthe line of force acting through the link 33 would tend to rotate the actuator V31 in a counterclockwise direction. Since rotation of the lactuator 31 is prevented by the abutting relationship of its side 43 with the ange 14, the bolts 29' are thus positively blocked against movement in unlatching direction should an attempt be made to disengage them from their respective striker plates 41 by insertion of a pry bar or similar tool into the space between the upper and lower horizontal edges of the door and the abutting or adjacent vehicle body frame members upon which the striker plates are mounted.

Upon rotation of the actuator 31 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. l, the upper pivot 35 of the link 33 will be shifted to the liange 13 side of the center of the pivot axis formed by the pivot stud 32. Upon the dead center position being passed, continued rotation of the actuator 3'1 will result in a lifting force being applied to the leg 33 causing the latter to pull the arm 26 of the retractor upwardly and therefore the retractor in a counterclockwise direction. The rods 28 attached to the secondary latch elements, the bolts 29, will be pulled in a direction to cause the respective bolts 29 to be moved inwardly of the upper and lower edge, respectively, of the door and out of engagement with the respective striker plates 4-1. 'Ihe first phase of the unlatching movement of the latch elements may be considered as terminating in the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, Iboth of the bolts 29 are retracted to unlatched position and the arm 23 of the retractor will be in abutting relation to the ear 19 on the bolt 15. If desired, actuation of the latch elements may be stopped at this point. The door will remain latched, however, being held by the bolt 15.

It will be noted that there is mounted on the upper end of the main plate portion 12 a spring 44 having a depending arm portion 45 lying in abutting relation to the upper squared corner 46 of the actuator 31. Movement of the actuator 31 from its FIG. 1 to its FIG. 2 position causes the spring to react iirst against one side and then against the other side of the squared corner 46 of the actuator 31. When the relationship is that shown in FIG. 2, the arm of the spring acts to hold the actuator in its FIG. 2 position, yieldably preventing return of the latter to its FIG. 1 position and thereby maintaining the latch elements 29 in their raised position.

To move the door from its closed position to an open position, the primary latch means, the bolt 15, must be retracted. This is done by further operation of the actuator 31 in its clockwise direction of movement. This is reiiected in further counterclockwise movement of the retractor 21 causing the arm 23 thereon to abut and engage the ear 19 on the bolt forcing the latter against resistance of lthe spring 18 to a retracted position. With the bolt retracted, the door may then be opened.

Upon release of the appropriate handle through which rotation of the actuator in a clockwise direction is being accomplished, the spring 18 will cause the primary latch element, the bolt 15, -to `be projected outwardly into latched position. Because of the abutting relationship of the arm 23 of the retractor to the ear 19 on the bolt 15, the retractor will be restored from the FIG. 3 position to the FIG. 2 position. The secondary latch elements, the

bolts 29, however, will remain in their retracted position.V

This is ya convenient feature in that the vehicle operator may rely on the spring action of the bolt 15 to hold the door in a latch position in the event that he is required to nudge or push the door closed when his hands are full of merchandise removed from the cargo compartment of the vehicle.

Should the driver desire to engage the vertically extending slide bolts, he must manually operate the actuator through either the inside or outside door handles to rotate the same from its FIG. 2 position in a counterclockwise direction to the FIG. 1 position. This results in the vertically movable bolts being positively driven into latching engagement with their respective striker plates 41. This, of course, will only be done when the bolt 15 is in engagement with its striker plate when the door is in a closed position.

Provision is made for locking the latch mechanism against actuation. The locking means comprises a slide 47 mounted on the face of the main plate portion 12 opposite to that carrying the actuator, the retractor and the slide bolt 1S. The slide 47 is an elongated member hav:

ing a laterally extending embossment 48 at its upper end.

The embossment 48 is of a width suiiicient to extend between a straight edge 49 on the actuator 31 and the flange 13 on the main plate portion 12 of the latch mechanism when the actuator 31 is in the fully latched position of the latch elements as shown. An aperture 51 is provided in the main plate portion through which the embossment 48 on the slide projects. It should be noted that the width of the embossment 4S is slightly less than the vertical longitudinal length of the aperture 51. In assembling the slide to the main plate portion 12, the slide is positioned so that the longitudinal axis of the embossment 48 parallels the longitudinal axis of the aperture 51. The embossment 48 is then placed through the aperture 51 and the slide is then rotated 90 degrees to the position shown in FIG. 4. This provides a means for retaining and guiding the `upper end of the slide 47. The slide 47 is provided with an elongated slot '52 through which a rivet 53 projects, the rivet having an enlarged head. The rivet 53 is secured to the plate to provide further guiding and retaining means for the slide.

When the embossment 48 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, it blocks rotation of the actuator 31 in' a clock` wise direction. Thus the latch elements cannot be retracted. If the slide is moved downwardly from it FIG. 1 position, the embossment 48 is placed out of the path of the lstraight edge 49 of the actuator and has no blocking effect. It can, of course, only be moved into blocking position when both the primary and secondary latch elements are in fully latched position. If only the primary latch element 15 is in latched position and thek secondary latch elements 29 are retracted, as shown in FIG. 2, the actuator will block positioning of the blocking embossment 48 in blocking position.

The slide 47 may be moved into and out of blocking position lfrom either the inside or the outside of the door.

As ibest seen in FIG. 4, a substantially horizontally ex-V tending lever 54 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot stud 55 is carried on the rear face of the main plate portion. As shown in FIG. 8, at one end the lever 54 has an inwardly turned lug or ange 56 which tits within the embossment 48 on the end of the slide 47. At its other end it is provided with fa hole 57 adapted to receive a lbutton or la push-pull rod extending to a button (not shown) accessible on the inner panel for operation of the slide from inside of the cargo door.

For operation of the slide from the outside of the vehicle door, a conventional key cylinder bell crank mechanism is provided. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7,n

project toward the plate 12 in engagement with a notchv 64 in the slide 47. The plate 12 may be provided with a suitable arcuate slot 6'5 for clearance for the end of the arm extension 63. Rotation of the crank arm 62 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 results in the slide 46 being moved downwardly and rotation in a counterclockwise direction results in the slide 4S being moved upwardly. A toggle spring 66 is interposed between the slide 47 and plate l2 :to ensure completion of the movement in either direction, in a well-known manner.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction as shown and described, but that various changes and modiiications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of t-he invention as deiined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, a primary latch element and at least one secondary latch element, means movably mounting said primary latch `element on said support plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate for movement from an inoperative position to latch element actuating position, means directly coupling said secondary latch element to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said prnnary and secondary latch element, and means operable to pivot said retractor means to first retract said secondary latch element from latched to unlatched position and move said part into engagement with said primary latch element and then to retract said primary latch element from latched to an unlatched position, said operable means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means at one side of the pivot axis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in in-operative position of the latter coact-ing to block retraction of said secondary latch element by force exerted on the latch end thereof.

2. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, primary and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, spring means normally urging said primary latch element toward latched position, ya retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate for movement lfrom Ian inoperative position to latch element yactuating position, means directly coupling said secondary latch elements to said retractor mea-ns for movement thereby between' latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said primary and secondary latch elements, and means operable to pivot said retractor means to first retract said secondary latch elements from latched to unlatched position and move said part into engagement with said primary latch element yand then to retract said primary latch element from latched to an unlatched position, said operable means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means at one side of the pivot axis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in inoperative position of the latter coacting to block retraction of any secondary latch element by force exerted on the latch end thereof, said spring means being effective to restore said primary latch element to latched position upon release of the means operable to pivot said retractor means.

3. A latch mechanism comprising .a support plate, primary and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support pla-te for movement between latched and unlatched positions, spring means normally urging said primary latch element toward latched position, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, means directly coupling said secondary latch elements -to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched .and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said primary and secondary latch elements, and means operable to `pivot said retractor means in one direction from an inoperative position to lan intermediate position in 'which said secondary latch elements are in an unlatched position and said part is in engagement with said primary latch element, said operable means being further operable to move said retractor means in the same direction to move said primary latch element to unlatched position, said operable means includ-ing link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means lat one side `of the pivot airis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in inoperative position of the latter coacting to block retraction of any secondary latch element `by forceexerted on the latch end thereof, said spring means being effective on release of said operable means to restore said primary latch element to latched position land pivot said retractor means in a direction opposite to said one direction to said intermediate position.

4. A latch mechanism comprising' a support plate, a primary latch element and at least one secondary latch element, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, spring means normally urging said primary latch element toward latched position, ia retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, means directly coupling said secondary latch element to said retractor means for 4movement thereby lbetween latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position or" said primary and secondary latch elements, and means operable to pivot said retractor means in one direction from an inoperative position to an intermediate position in which said secondary latch elements are in an unlatched position and said part is in engagement with said primary latch element, said operable means being further operable to move said retractor means in the same direction to move said primary latch element to unlatched position, said operable means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means at one side of the pivot axis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in inoperative position of the latter coacting to lblock retraction of said secondary latch element by force exerted on' the latch end thereof, said springV means being etiective on release of said operable means to restore said primary latch element to latched position and pivot said retractor means in a direction opposite to said one direction to said intermediate position, restoration of said secondary latch element to latched position requiring further operation of said operable means to move said retractor means `from said intermediate position to its inoperative position. f

5. A latch mechanism `comprising a support plate, primary and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, spring means normally urging said primary latch element toward latched-position, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, means directly coupling said secondary latch elements tto said retractor means for movement thereby Ibetween latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said primary and secondary latch elements, rmeans operable tot piv-ot said retractor means in one direction from an inoperable position to an intermediate position in which said secondary latch elements are in an unlatched position and said part is in engagement with said primary latch element, said operable means being further operable to move said retractor means in the sairne direction to move said primary Ilatch element to unlatched position, said operable means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means at one side of the pivot axis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in inoperative position of the latter coacting to block retraction of any secondary latch element by force exerted on the latch end thereof, said spring means being effective on release of said operable means to restore said primary latch element to latched position and pivot said retractor means in a direction opposite to said one direction to said intermediate position, restoration of said secondary latch means to latched position requiring further operation of said operable means to move said retractor means from said intermediate position to its inoperative position, and means movably mounted on said support positiona-ble to block operation of said operable means.

6. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, primary and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement ,between latched and unlatched positions, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate for movement from an inoperative position to latch element actuating position, means directly coupling said secondary latch elements to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a pant thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said primary and secondary latch elements, means operabie to pivot said retractor means to first retract said secondary latch elements from latched to unlatched position and move said part into engagement with said primary latch element and then to retract said primary latch element from latched to an unlatched position, said operable means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means at one side of the pivot axis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in inoperative position of the latter coasting tto block retraction of any secondary latch element by force exerted on the latch end thereof, and means movably mounted :on said support positionable to block operation of said opera-ble means.

7. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, primary and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement -between latched and unlatched positions, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, means directly coupling said `secondary latch elements to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatch-ed positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said primary and secondary latch elements, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said support, link means coupling said actuating member to said retractor means, said link means being pivotally connected at each of its ends to said retractor means and said actuator means on the same side of the pivot axes thereof, respectively, and manually operable means coupled to :said actuating member for pivotally moving the same and thereby said retractor means to iirst retract said secondary latch elements from latched to unlatched position and move said part into engagement with said primary -latch element and then to retract said primary latch element from latched to ian unlatched position, said link means being positioned `on said actuated means in latched position of the secondary latch elements to block pivotal movement of said retractor means and thereby movement of any secondary latch element in unlatching direction by force exerted on the latch end thereof.

8. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, primary and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement between latched and unlatched position-s, a retraotor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, means directly coupling said secondary latch elements to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary latch element in latched position of said primary and secondary latch elements, an actuating member pivotally, mounted on said support means, link means coupling said actuating member -to said retractor Ameans, said `link means being pivotally connected at each of its ends to said retractor means and said actuator means on the same side of the pivot axes thereof, respectively, manually operable means coupled to said lactuating member for' pivotally moving the same and thereby said retractor means lto first retract said secondary latch elements from latched to unlatched position and move said part into engagement with said primary latch element and then to retract said primary latch element from latched to an unlatched position, said link means being positioned on said actuator means in latched position of the secondary latch elements to block pivotal movement of said .retractor means and thereby movement of any secondary latch element in -unlatching direction by force exerted on the latch end thereof, and blocking means on said support positionable to block movement of said actuating member in latched position of said latch elements.

9. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, primary `and secondary latch elements, means movably mounting said primary latch element on said support plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, spring means normally urging said primary latch i element toward latched position, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate for movement from an inoperative position to latch element actuating position, means directly coupling said secondary latch elements to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatched positions, said retractor means having a part thereof spaced from said primary' latch element in latched position of said primary and -secondary latch elements, and means operable to pivot Said retractor means in one direction to an intermediate position in which said secondary latch elements are in an unlatched position and said part is in engagement with said primary latch element, said operable means being further operable to move said retractor means in the same direction to move said primary latch element to unlatched position, said operable means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means at one side of the pivot axis of the latter, said link means and retractor means in inoperative position of the latter coacting to block retraction of any secondary latch element by force exerted on the latch end thereof, said spring means being effective on release of said operable means to restore said primary latch element to latched position and pivot said retractor means in a di-rection opposite to said one direction to said intermediate position, and blocking means on said support positionable to block operation of said operable means in latched position of said latch elements.

10. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, aV

primary latch element slidably mounted on said plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, spring means normally urging said primary element toward latched position, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, a secondary latch element directly coupled Ito said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatched positions, manelement latching direction, said link means being positioned on said actuator means in fully latched position of said secondary latch element to urge said actuator means against said stop to block pivotal movement of said retractor means and thereby movement of said seconda-ry latch element in unlatching ydirection by force exerted on the latch end thereof.

11. A latch mechanism comprising a support plate, a primary latch element slidably mounted on said plate for movement between latched and unlatched positions, a retractor means pivotally mounted on said support plate, secondary latch means directly coupled to said retractor means for movement thereby between latched and unlatched positions, manually operable means including an actuator member pivotally mounted yon said plate, link means :coupling said actuator means to Said retractor means, said link means being pivotally connected at each of its ends to said retractor means and said actuator means on the same side of the pivot axes thereof, respectively, stop means on said plate limiting movement of said actuator means and thereby said manually operable means in secondary latch means latching direction, said link means being positioned onl said actuator means in fully latched position of the secondary latch means to urge said actuator means against said stop to block pivotal movement of said retractor means and thereby movement of any seconda-ry latch means in unlatching direction by force exerted at the latch end thereof, and blocking means mounted on said plate shi-ftable into position against said actuator means on a side thereof opposite said stop means to prevent actuation in unlatching direction by said manually operable means.

12. In a vehicle body having a closure swingably mounted thereon for movement between opened and closed positions, -a latch mechanism comprising a rst bolt means and a second bolt means for latching said closure to said vehicle body, said first and second bolt means being Iei tractable from closure latched to closure unlatched positions in directions normal to each other, la pivotally mounted retractor means coupled to one of said bolt means for causing retraction of the latter to a closure nnlatched position upon pivotal movement of said ren-actor means from an inoperative position to an intermediate position, -said tretractor means having a part thereof movable independently of said other bolt means until said intermediate position is reached, further pivotal movement of said retractor means beyond said intermediate position causing its said part to abut said other bolt means and retract the latter to closure unlatched position, and manually oper-able means for pivotally moving `said retractor means including link means pivotally connected at one end thereof to said retractor means `at one side of the pivot laxis of the latter, said retractor means and link means coactinlg in inl operative position of the retractor means to non-yieldably restrain said one bolt means against movement to unlatched position.

"13. In a vehicle body according to claim 12 in which said latch mechanism is provided with 4a spring means urging said other bolt means to projected position, said spring means being effect-ive to restore said common operating means to said intermediate position upon release of the latter `after retraction of said other bolt means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 881,487 Pfleghar Mar. yl0, 1908 1,395,688 McCulloch Nov- 1, 19211 1,638,748 Santee Aug. 9, 19227 2,736,185 Collar Feb. 28, 1956 3,040,555 Wartian June 26, 41962 FOREIGN PATENTS 366,678 Italy Jan. 4, 19134 

1. A LATCH MECHANISM COMPRISING A SUPPORT PLATE, A PRIMARY LATCH ELEMENT AND AT LEAST ONE SECONDARY LATCH ELEMENT, MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID PRIMARY LATCH ELEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT PLATE FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN LATCHED AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, A RETRACTOR MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT PLATE FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION TO LATCH ELEMENT ACTUATING POSITION, MEANS DIRECTLY COUPLING SAID SECONDARY LATCH ELEMENT TO SAID RETRACTOR MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREBY BETWEEN LATCHED AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, SAID RETRACTOR MEANS HAVING A PART THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID PRIMARY LATCH ELEMENT IN LATCHED POSITION OF SAID PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LATCH ELEMENT, AND MEANS OPERABLE TO PIVOT SAID RETRACTOR MEANS TO FIRST RETRACT SAID SECONDARY LATCH ELEMENT FROM LATCHED TO UNLATCHED POSITION AND MOVE SAID PART INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PRIMARY LATCH ELEMENT AND THEN TO RETRACT SAID PRIMARY LATCH ELEMENT FROM LATCHED TO AN UNLATCHED POSITION, SAID OPERABLE MEANS INCLUDING LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID RETRACTOR MEANS AT ONE SIDE OF THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE LATTER, SAID LINK MEANS AND RETRACTOR MEANS IN IN-OPERATIVE POSITION OF THE LATTER COACTING TO BLOCK RETRACTION OF SAID SECONDARY LATCH ELEMENT BY FORCE EXERTED ON THE LATCH END THEREOF. 